The 100 Highest-Paid Athletes in 2020 - Ranked
By Tom Gott
Whether it's football, basketball or Formula 1, it's safe to say that there's plenty of money in sports these days.
To find out just how much, Forbes took a look at the earnings (including from both salaries and endorsements) of the world's biggest and most successful athletes. The top 100 earners took home a combined $3.9bn over the past 12 months, which - believe it or not - is actually a 9% drop from 2019.
Here's a breakdown of all those top 100 earners.
100) Sergio Ramos
Earnings: €21.8m
Endorsements: $3m
Salary/Winnings: $18.8m
One of the highest earners at Real Madrid, centre-back Sergio Ramos has raked in a whopping $21.8m over the past 12 months.
It might not have been the most successful year on the pitch for Los Blancos, but it was definitely a positive spell for Ramos, who was handed his own docuseries on Amazon Prime in September 2019.
99) Derek Carr
Earnings: €22m
Endorsements: $2m
Salary/Winnings: $20m
98) Calais Campbell
Earnings: $22.1m
Endorsements: $0.1m
Salary/Winnings: €22m
97) Cam Newton
Earnings: $22.2m
Endorsements: $5.5m
Salary/Winnings: $16.7m
96) Bradley Beal
Earnings: $22.3m
Endorsements: $2m
Salary/Winnings: $20.3m
94) Quinnen Williams
Earnings: $22.4m
Endorsements: $0.2m
Salary/Winnings: $22.2m
94) D.J. Reader
Earnings: $22.4m
Endorsements: $0.08m
Salary/Winnings: $22.3m
93) Andre Drummond
Earnings: $22.6m
Endorsements: $1m
Salary/Winnings: $21.6m
92) Andrus Peat
Earnings: $22.7m
Endorsements: $0.05m
Salary/Winnings: $22.6m
91) Ben Roethlisberger
Earnings: $23m
Endorsements: $1m
Salary/Winnings: $22m
89) Paul Millsap
Earnings: $23.3m
Endorsements: $0.5m
Salary/Winnings: $22.8m
89) Ezekiel Elliott
Earnings: $23.3m
Endorsements: $2m
Salary/Winnings: $21.25m
88) Philip Rivers
Earnings: $23.4m
Endorsements: $0.4m
Salary/Winnings: $22.9m
87) Karl-Anthony Towns
Earnings: $23.5m
Endorsements: $3m
Salary/Winnings: $20.5m
85) Shaq Thompson
Earnings: $23.7m
Endorsements: $0.15m
Salary/Winnings: $23.5m
85) Nick Bosa
Earnings: $23.7m
Endorsements: $0.75m
Salary/Winnings: $22.9m
84) C.J. McCollum
Earnings: $23.8m
Endorsements: $3m
Salary/Winnings: $20.8m
83) Marcus Mariota
Earnings: $23.9m
Endorsements: $3m
Salary/Winnings: $20.9m
82) Khris Middleton
Earnings: $24.1m
Endorsements: $1m
Salary/Winnings: $23.1m
81) Dante Fowler, Jr.
Earnings: $24.2m
Endorsements: $0.2m
Salary/Winnings: $24m
80) Trae Waynes
Earnings: $24.3m
Endorsements: $0.25m
Salary/Winnings: $24.1m
79) Al Horford
Earnings: $24.4m
Endorsements: $3.3m
Salary/Winnings: $21.1m
78) Kristaps Porzingis
Earnings: $24.5m
Endorsements: $4m
Salary/Winnings: $20.5m
77) Robert Quinn
Earnings: $24.7m
Endorsements: $0.15m
Salary/Winnings: $24.5m
76) DeMar DeRozan
Earnings: $24.8m
Endorsements: $4m
Salary/Winnings: $20.8m
75) Amari Cooper
Earnings: $24.9m
Endorsements: $1m
Salary/Winnings: $23.9m
74) Bobby Wagner
Earnings: $25m
Endorsements: $0.5m
Salary/Winnings: $24.5m
73) Gareth Bale
Earnings: $25.2m
Endorsements: $5.5m
Salary/Winnings: $19.7m
We all know about Gareth Bale's bumper salary, which he gets for playing football, not golf.
His contract with Real Madrid can actually go up to $33m per year if the Welshman hits all his pre-agreed bonuses, but given his struggles to hold down a place in the first team under Zinedine Zidane, that might be a step too far.
71) Tobias Harris
Earnings: $25.4m
Endorsements: $0.75m
Salary/Winnings: $24.6m
71) Mike Conley, Jr.
Earnings: $25.4m
Endorsements: $1m
Salary/Winnings: $24.4m
70) Ryan Tannehill
Earnings: $25.5m
Endorsements: $0.3m
Salary/Winnings: $25.2m
69) Alexis Sánchez
Earnings: $25.6m
Endorsements: $1m
Salary/Winnings: $24.6m
Another of those with an infamously hefty contract, Alexis Sánchez's wage of between $400,000-$500,000 per week has been split up between parent club Manchester United and loan side Inter this year.
The Chilean, who has struggled with injuries during his time in Milan, also pockets an annual bonus of $1m. Not too shabby.
67) Kevin Love
Earnings: $25.7m
Endorsements: $4m
Salary/Winnings: $21.7m
67) David De Gea
Earnings: $25.7m
Endorsements: $3m
Salary/Winnings: $22.7m
After signing a contract extension in September 2019, David De Gea became the highest-paid goalkeeper around. His average annual salary of $23m-a-year has him well out in front of the competition.
It hasn't been the easiest 12 months for Manchester United, who find themselves locked in a real battle to secure Champions League football next season.
66) Virat Kohli
Earnings: $26m
Endorsements: $24m
Salary/Winnings: $2m
65) Darius Slay
Earnings: $26.1m
Endorsements: $0.25m
Salary/Winnings: $25.8m
63) D'Angelo Russell
Earnings: $26.5m
Endorsements: $6m
Salary/Winnings: $20.5m
63) Christian McCaffrey
Earnings: $26.5m
Endorsements: $3m
Salary/Winnings: $23.5m
62) Devin Booker
Earnings: $26.6m
Endorsements: $6m
Salary/Winnings: $20.6m
60) Antoine Griezmann
Earnings: $26.7m
Endorsements: $5.5m
Salary/Winnings: $21.2m
After an eternity of drama, Antoine Griezmann sealed a switch from Atlético Madrid to Barcelona, inking a bumper five-year deal at Camp Nou.
On top of his salary, Griezmann also profits from lucrative sponsorship deals from the likes of Puma and Huawei, while he even launched his own eSports company, Grizi Esport.
60) Joel Embiid
Earnings: $26.7m
Endorsements: $6m
Salary/Winnings: $20.7m
59) Arik Armstead
Earnings: $26.8m
Endorsements: $0.25m
Salary/Winnings: $26.5m
57) Zion Williamson
Earnings: $27.3m
Endorsements: $20m
Salary/Winnings: $7.3m
57) Clayton Kershaw
Earnings: $27.3m
Endorsements: $0.75m
Salary/Winnings: $26.5m
56) Oscar
Earnings: $27.5m
Endorsements: $1.7m
Salary/Winnings: $25.8m
After lifting two Premier League titles with Chelsea, Oscar landed a switch to Shanghai SIPG in 2017, where he now takes home an annual salary of $25m.
However, the 28-year-old might not be earning that kind of money annually for much longer after the Chinese Super League elected to impose a salary cap to stop teams throwing enormous wages at foreign stars.
52) Kemba Walker
Earnings: $27.6m
Endorsements: $3m
Salary/Winnings: $24.6m
52) Jordan Spieth
Earnings: $27.6m
Endorsements: $26m
Salary/Winnings: $1.6m
52) Gordon Hayward
Earnings: $27.6m
Endorsements: $3m
Salary/Winnings: $24.6m
52) Jimmy Butler
Earnings: $27.6m
Endorsements: $3m
Salary/Winnings: $24.6m
50) Paul Pogba
Earnings: $28.5m
Endorsements: $5.5m
Salary/Winnings: $23m
Paul Pogba pockets a base salary of over $20m-a-year at Old Trafford, but could be picking up that money somewhere else by the time the transfer window slams shut.
Real Madrid and Juventus are supposedly both keen on the Frenchman, who remains under contract with Manchester United until 2021 (with the option for a further year).
50) Kyle Lowry
Earnings: $28.5m
Endorsements: $1.5m
Salary/Winnings: $27m
49) Mesut Özil
Earnings: $28.7m
Endorsements: $5.5m
Salary/Winnings: $23.2m
Taking home close to $24m from Arsenal each year is German midfielder Mesut Özil, whose salary has long been viewed as a problem for the Gunners.
Concerns over his work rate saw Özil struggle to hold down a regular spot in the team under former boss Unai Emery, and although current manager Mikel Arteta has welcomed the German back, it's still thought to be just a matter of time before Özil leaves.
48) Daniel Ricciardo
Earnings: $29m
Endorsements: $2m
Salary/Winnings: $27m
47) Matt Ryan
Earnings: $29.5m
Endorsements: $5.5m
Salary/Winnings: $24m
46) Andrés Iniesta
Earnings: $29.6m
Endorsements: $3m
Salary/Winnings: $26.6m
Andrés Iniesta might not be with Barcelona anymore, but he's still earning Barcelona money out in Japan with Vissel Kobe.
On top of his lucrative salary, Iniesta also recently penned a new sponsorship deal with Asics, ending his partnership with Nike after nearly two decades.
45) Aaron Rodgers
Earnings: $30.1m
Endorsements: $9m
Salary/Winnings: $21.1m
44) Anthony Davis
Earnings: $30.4m
Endorsements: $10m
Salary/Winnings: $20.4m
43) Kawhi Leonard
Earnings: $30.5m
Endorsements: $5.5m
Salary/Winnings: $25m
42) John Wall
Earnings: $31.2m
Endorsements: $2.5m
Salary/Winnings: $28.7m
41) Blake Griffin
Earnings: $31.9m
Endorsements: $6m
Salary/Winnings: $25.9m
40) Kei Nishikori
Earnings: $32.1m
Endorsements: $30m
Salary/Winnings: $1.1m
39) Michael Thomas
Earnings: $32.4m
Endorsements: $0.75m
Salary/Winnings: $31.6m
38) Paul George
Earnings: $32.8m
Endorsements: $8m
Salary/Winnings: $24.8m
37) Grady Jarrett
Earnings: $33.1m
Endorsements: $0.05m
Salary/Winnings: $33m
36) Kylian Mbappé
Earnings: $33.8m
Endorsements: $13m
Salary/Winnings: $20.8m
Kylian Mbappé's career is still in its infancy and he's already deservedly being paid like one of the best around. The future looks very, very bright for him.
On top of his base salary of $20m-a-year, Mbappé also took home a hefty sum from Nike after releasing his first Mercurial shoe through the brand in December 2019.
35) Chris Paul
Earnings: $35m
Endorsements: $6m
Salary/Winnings: $29m
34) Mohamed Salah
Earnings: $35.1m
Endorsements: $12m
Salary/Winnings: $23.1m
Mohamed Salah's contract with Liverpool actually pays him a (relatively) average base salary given his superstardom, but gives him the chance to earn so much more if he reaches certain targets. Fortunately for the Egyptian, as one of the most prolific and successful forwards around, he's triggering those bonuses.
Salah was the Reds' top scorer in both the Premier League and Champions League last season, and leading his side to European gory will only have earned him even more money.
33) Serena Williams
Earnings: $36m
Endorsements: $32m
Salary/Winnings: $4m
32) Sebastian Vettel
Earnings: $36.3m
Endorsements: $0.3m
Salary/Winnings: $36m
30) Damian Lillard
Earnings: $37m
Endorsements: $14.5m
Salary/Winnings: $22.5m
30) Canelo Álvarez
Earnings: $37m
Endorsements: $2m
Salary/Winnings: $35m
29) Naomi Osaka
Earnings: $37.4m
Endorsements: $34m
Salary/Winnings: $3.4m
28) Klay Thompson
Earnings: $38.8m
Endorsements: $14m
Salary/Winnings: $24.8m
27) Rafael Nadal
Earnings: $40m
Endorsements: $26m
Salary/Winnings: $14m
26) Julio Jones
Earnings: $40.5m
Endorsements: $3m
Salary/Winnings: $37.5m
25) Phil Mickelson
Earnings: $40.8m
Endorsements: $40m
Salary/Winnings: $0.8m
24) Kyrie Irving
Earnings: $41.9m
Endorsements: $18m
Salary/Winnings: $23.9m
23) Novak Djokovic
Earnings: $44.6m
Endorsements: $32m
Salary/Winnings: $12.6m
22) Drew Brees
Earnings: $44.8m
Endorsements: $15m
Salary/Winnings: $29.8m
21) Tom Brady
Earnings: $45m
Endorsements: $12m
Salary/Winnings: $33m
20) Deontay Wilder
Earnings: $46.5m
Endorsements: $0.5m
Salary/Winnings: $46m
19) Anthony Joshua
Earnings: $47m
Endorsements: $11m
Salary/Winnings: $36m
18) Giannis Antetokounmpo
Earnings: $47.6m
Endorsements: $28m
Salary/Winnings: $19.6m
17) James Harden
Earnings: $47.8m
Endorsements: $19m
Salary/Winnings: $28.8m
16) Conor McGregor
Earnings: $48m
Endorsements: $16m
Salary/Winnings: $32m
15) Jared Goff
Earnings: $49m
Endorsements: $2m
Salary/Winnings: $47m
14) Rory McIlroy
Earnings: $52m
Endorsements: $30m
Salary/Winnings: $22m
13) Lewis Hamilton
Earnings: $54m
Endorsements: $12m
Salary/Winnings: $42m
12) Russell Westbrook
Earnings: $56m
Endorsements: $27m
Salary/Winnings: $29m
11) Tyson Fury
Earnings: $57m
Endorsements: $7m
Salary/Winnings: $50m
10) Carson Wentz
Earnings: $59.1m
Endorsements: $4m
Salary/Winnings: $55.1m
9) Kirk Cousins
Earnings: $60.5m
Endorsements: $2.5m
Salary/Winnings: $58m
8) Tiger Woods
Earnings: $62.3m
Endorsements: $60m
Salary/Winnings: $2.3m
7) Kevin Durant
Earnings: $63.9m
Endorsements: $35m
Salary/Winnings: $28.9m
6) Stephen Curry
Earnings: $74.4m
Endorsements: $44m
Salary/Winnings: $30.4m
5) LeBron James
Earnings: $88.2m
Endorsements: $60m
Salary/Winnings: $28.2m
4) Neymar
Earnings: $95.5m
Endorsements: $25m
Salary/Winnings: $70.5m
As the most expensive player in football history and the second-most followed athlete on social media, it should come as no surprise to see Paris Saint-Germain sensation Neymar so high up in this list.
His contract, which expires in 2022, is worth a whopping $350m in salary alone, and then his lucrative deal with Nike's Jordan Brand has only boosted his income over the past 12 months.
3) Lionel Messi
Earnings: $104m
Endorsements: $32m
Salary/Winnings: $72m
Lionel Messi's Barcelona contract can stretch as high as $80m per year, and even though the Argentine hasn't been triggering all his available bonuses, he's still bringing in a cool $72m annually.
The 2018/19 campaign only brought success in La Liga, although Messi and co still have hope of adding some more silverware before the 2019/20 season comes to a close.
2) Cristiano Ronaldo
Earnings: $105m
Endorsements: $45m
Salary/Winnings: $60m
He might not have the highest salary in football, but Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo climbs all the way up to second on this list thanks to his huge endorsement deals.
The Portugal international is the most popular athlete on social media, which makes him one of the most appealing to brands like Nike.
Juventus sold 520,000 of his shirts in just 24 hours after they confirmed the deal to sign him in the summer of 2019, which tells you all you need to know about his worth.
1) Roger Federer
Earnings: $106.3m
Endorsements: $100m
Salary/Winnings: $6.3m
